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Revised Sep 3 2021

Bond's Providence Logbook Sep 18, 1792

Remarks &c in Providence Streights Tuesday 18th September 1792

 1 pm: Fresh Gale and fair weather with haze

 5 pm: At 5 Hour.20 Minutes weighed both Anchors, found the Arm of the Best Bower broke off close to the crown, and the cables very much rubbed – Stood after the Boats

 6 pm: At 6 Hour.30 Minutes Anchored (and round to a whole Cable for want of light, the East tide having run so strong as to prevent gaining much ground) in 8 fathoms [?] a bottom of sharp Coral rock; and surrounded by Rocks Keys and reefs, with an apparent small outlet to the west. The tide running about 5 miles per hour obliged us to steer the ship to keep her steady, for at the distance of ¼ of a mile were some rocks and shoals. Served an additional half allowance of Grog to the People as they had been much fatigued during the day. A Quarter Master Cunning the ship on the Bows – the Helmsman steering with great caution, and hands by the small Bower anchor

 4 am: – Dark Cloudy Weather – At 4 Hour.25 Minutes slack water – At 4 Hour.35 Minutes set to the Eastward

 5 am: The weather had a threatning appearance, began to heave.

 6 am: At 6 Hour.50 Mintues weighed with a strong tide to the Eastward Assistant leading between the reefs, and Boats continually sounding

 8 am: At 8 passing between two rocky Keys in 7 fathoms – distance across about ¾ mile. The different lands &c to the Eastward bore S16E to N6E, and to the Westward an open sea Something was seen from the hast head like a small rock, but we imagined it to be the buoy of our Bower anchor which broke yesterday a drift, and had been carried to the WNW by the rapidity of the tide. – Shoaled our water to 4 fathoms Tacked and stood back about a mile into good anchorage

 9 am: At 9 Hour.20 Minutes came to in 6 fathoms with the small Bower soft sand bottom; Extremes of the different Islands from S11°E to N43°E Passage to the last anchorage N63°E – Struck Top Gallant Masts and sent the boats to sound

12 noon: Strong gales and thick cloudy weather
   Latitude Observed 10°·04′·32″ South


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